A spokesman added: "EA teams are out working to minimise river flood risk, clearing debris from streams and unblocking culverts. We will continue to closely monitor the situation ready to issue flood warnings if needed. We are supporting local authorities who will respond to any reports of surface water flooding.

"Seafronts, quaysides and jetties should be avoided due to the risk of overtopping by waves and wind blown shingle."

Ferries cancelled

BBC Weather presenter Stav Danaos says the storm is contained in an area of low pressure in the Atlantic which developed off the east coast of the US.

It is currently "hurtling along" on the back of a strong jet stream and is expected to deepen and strengthen through Sunday as it approaches the UK, he says.

The strongest winds are expected on the storm's southern and western flanks.

Tree risk

Darron Burness, head of the AA's flood rescue team, said: "Strong wind and torrential rain is an unpredictable and hazardous combination, which can be quite overwhelming when you're driving.

"There's likely to be tree and other debris on the roads as well as potential flooding, so it's very important to keep your speed down and drive with great care."

The Met Office is predicting gusts in some areas could be similar in strength to storms in March 2008, January 2007, October 2000 and January 1990.

Wind speeds of 115 mph were recorded during the so-called Great Storm of October 1987.

Forecaster Michael Fish, who famously reassured viewers that there was not "a hurricane" on the way in 1987, predicted that the weather over the coming days would not rival the Great Storm.

He told the BBC News Channel: "Present thoughts are there are three storms it's comparable to - March 2008, January 2007 and October 2000.

"They certainly weren't as powerful as the 1987 storm."

He said computers had made it much easier for forecasters to accurately predict weather patterns and warn people to take precautions before storms hit.

Jill Attenborough, of the Woodland Trust, said 15 million UK trees fell in 1987 and warned more were now "exposed" because of a reduction to woodland areas for the building of roads, railways and housing.

Millions of trees fell during the infamous storm in October 1987

She said part of the reason so many trees fell was that many were in "full leaf" at that time, catching "the wind like a sail", and the same risk applied to the forecast storm.

Ms Attenborough urged people to use "common sense" and stay away from woodland in high winds.

Steve Scott, from the Forestry Commission, said the organisation now designed its woodlands with more open space.

He added: "The truth is, if the wind blows sufficiently strongly, it will blow trees down and so our preparedness is about how we deal with the aftermath."